Army specialist charged in death

Homicide occurred in barracks on Christmas Day

Army Spc. Marshall Drake, 23, was charged last week with involuntary homicide in the death of fellow soldier Grant Wise on Christmas Day.

Matt Tunseth

A soldier from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson has been charged with the Christmas death of Private 1st Class Grant Wise.

Specialist Marshall Drake, 23, was charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide and failure to obey general regulations, according to a statement released by JBER.

According to JBER, Drake allegedly killed Wise by shooting him with a firearm.

JBER said Drake also stored his personal firearm and ammunition in his barracks room and failed to disclose and register his firearm to the base — both violations of Army regulations.

Drake, of South Carolina, is an infantryman in the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. He joined the Army in October 2009 and was assigned to JBER in March 2010. He deployed to Afghanistan from December 2011 to October 2012.

Pfc. Wise, 25, of New York, was found with a single gunshot wound to the head and declared dead around 7:45 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2012. He was also a member of the 4-25th and was assigned to JBER in September 2012.

The case continues to be under investigation by the criminal investigation division, JBER said.

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